OVERRATED: 'The Master'

An overblown story of a man who begins the film as a violent drunk and — more than two hours later — stays that way. The latest from Paul Thomas Anderson is long on auteur ambition and Oscar-baiting performances but ultimately short on story or characters that inspire any sympathy. (But as much as Anderson's well-shot ride feels hellbent on not working for everyone, finding out whether it does is worthwhile after a lazy Hollywood summer.)

An overblown story of a man who begins the film as a violent drunk and — more than two hours later — stays that way. The latest from Paul Thomas Anderson is long on auteur ambition and Oscar-baiting performances but ultimately short on story or characters that inspire any sympathy. (But as much as Anderson's well-shot ride feels hellbent on not working for everyone, finding out whether it does is worthwhile after a lazy Hollywood summer.)

An overblown story of a man who begins the film as a violent drunk and — more than two hours later — stays that way. The latest from Paul Thomas Anderson is long on auteur ambition and Oscar-baiting performances but ultimately short on story or characters that inspire any sympathy. (But as much as Anderson's well-shot ride feels hellbent on not working for everyone, finding out whether it does is worthwhile after a lazy Hollywood summer.)